Control

The Intel Core i9-14900K and AMD Radeon RX 9070 pairing delivers a strong, consistent experience in Control, with performance that scales predictably across resolutions. The data shows a system capable of high refresh rates at 1080p and 1440p, while remaining playable at 4K with settings adjustments. This analysis breaks down the CPU and GPU contributions, resolution scaling, and the optimal settings for this specific combination.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i9-14900K is a 24-core, 32-thread processor from the Raptor Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and can boost up to 6.00 GHz, which is a significant advantage for games that rely on high single-thread performance. The processor's large 36 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache help keep frequently accessed data close, which can reduce latency in physics-heavy scenes and complex AI routines that Control is known for. The data confirms this CPU is a top-tier performer; its average benchmark score of 79097 places it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs tested, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of processors available.

In the context of Control, the i9-14900K is likely not the limiting factor in most scenarios. The game was released in 2019 and is not known for requiring extreme multi-core processing. However, the headroom provided by this CPU is substantial. Its nearest rivals show just how close the top of the market is: the Intel Core i9-14900KF scores 79371, a mere 0.3% higher, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 79574, 0.6% higher. The i9-14900K is also 1.2% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7413 and 1.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395.

What this means for Control is that the CPU is providing a stable foundation. The measured FPS at 1080p with Low settings reaches 182 FPS, a frame rate that is far beyond what most displays can handle and clearly not bottlenecked by the CPU. Even at Ultra settings, the 100 FPS average at 1080p suggests that the game is not hitting a CPU wall. The processor's 125 W TDP and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory give it flexibility, but its performance is the key takeaway. It has more than enough single-core speed to feed the GPU in this title, ensuring that the Radeon RX 9070 is the primary driver of frame rate output.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is the graphics powerhouse in this pairing, built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture and manufactured on a 4 nm process. It features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a substantial 644.6 GB/s of bandwidth. This is a crucial asset for Control, a game with detailed textures and complex visual effects. The GPU's 3584 shading units and 128 ROPs handle the rendering workload, while its 56 ray accelerators are ready for the game's ray-traced reflections and lighting. The boost clock of 2520 MHz and a game clock of 2070 MHz ensure high throughput. The GPU's 220 W TDP is a reasonable figure for the performance class.

The GPU's overall benchmark scores, while not as dominant as the CPU's percentile ranking, are solid. Its Passmark G3D score of 25381 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6290 indicate a capable graphics card. It sits in the 69th percentile of all GPUs, which is respectable. In comparisons to its nearest rivals, the performance is tight: it is 0.6% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z, 1.1% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile, but 0.8% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6800S and 1.2% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER.

In Control, the GPU's role is clear from the FPS data. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 51, which is a demanding load that stresses the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth. The 16 GB VRAM buffer is more than sufficient for Control at any settings, preventing texture pop-in or stuttering from memory exhaustion. The difference between Low and Ultra settings at the same resolution highlights the GPU's workload. At 1440p, the GPU shows its strength, delivering a playable 75 FPS at Ultra and a very high 137 FPS at Low. The data indicates that the RX 9070 is the primary component dictating performance in this game, especially at higher resolutions and quality presets, where its raw rasterization power and memory bandwidth come into play.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals a classic GPU-bound scaling pattern. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 182 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 137 FPS, and at 4K Low it falls to 93 FPS. This is a significant drop as resolution increases, which is expected when the GPU's pixel-pushing capabilities become the primary constraint. The scaling is not linear, but the trend is clear: each step up in resolution demands more from the GPU.

The High settings preset shows a similar trajectory. At 1080p, the average is 115 FPS. At 1440p, it drops to 87 FPS, and at 4K it falls to 59 FPS. This 56 FPS difference between 1080p and 4K for High settings is a strong indicator that the RX 9070 is working progressively harder. The Ultra preset is even more telling: 100 FPS at 1080p, 75 FPS at 1440p, and 51 FPS at 4K. The frame rate nearly halves from 1080p to 4K, which is a hallmark of a GPU-limited scenario.

The data suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck here. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions, as the CPU's workload is largely independent of resolution. Instead, the consistent and substantial FPS drops as resolution increases point directly to the GPU as the limiting component. The i9-14900K is providing enough frame data to the GPU, but the RX 9070 cannot maintain the same frame rate when asked to render more pixels. This is a healthy pairing; the CPU has enough headroom to support the GPU without holding it back, even at 1080p where CPU load is typically highest.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i9-14900K and AMD Radeon RX 9070 ranks 1134 out of 3720 tested combos in Control. This places it in the top 30% of all system configurations tested, which is a solid position. This rank shows that while this is a high-end setup, it is not the absolute top-tier for this specific game. The ranking considers the combined performance of both the CPU and GPU, and in Control, the GPU's performance is the more significant factor.

This rank of 1134 suggests that there are many other combinations that can outperform it, likely those pairing the same or similar CPUs with more powerful GPUs. However, it also means that this combo is ahead of a large majority of systems. The percentile ranking of the CPU (95th) and GPU (69th) helps explain this: the CPU is in the elite class, but the GPU is merely good. The combo rank is a holistic view, and it shows that the system's overall performance is dragged down slightly by the GPU's less dominant position in the market.

For a game like Control, this rank is more than sufficient. The data shows that this combo can achieve high frame rates at common resolutions. The rank is a useful reference point, but the measured FPS is more practical for setting expectations. Being in the top 30% of all combos tested indicates that this system is well-equipped for a demanding title like Control, and users should be confident in its capabilities.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the "High" settings preset provides the best balance of visual quality and performance for this combo. At 1080p, High delivers an average of 115 FPS, which is an excellent experience for a fast-paced action game. This is a significant jump from the 100 FPS at Ultra, and the visual difference between High and Ultra is often negligible in Control. At 1440p, the High preset averages 87 FPS, which is still very smooth and provides a great balance for high-refresh-rate monitors. This is a more playable experience than the 75 FPS at Ultra.

At 4K, the High preset drops to 59 FPS, which is right at the edge of playability for many. For a strictly 4K experience, the Medium preset is a better choice, as it maintains an average of 66 FPS with a minimum of 56 FPS, ensuring a more consistent frame time. The Ultra preset at 4K, with its 51 FPS average, is a bit too demanding for a smooth experience. The Low preset, while achieving high frame rates, sacrifices too much visual fidelity.

Therefore, the recommendation is clear: for 1080p and 1440p gaming, use the High preset. It offers the best compromise between visual quality and frame rate. For 4K gaming, the Medium preset is the optimal choice, as it is the highest quality setting that consistently stays above the 60 FPS threshold in the measured data. This approach ensures a responsive and visually appealing experience without the performance dips seen at Ultra.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following is the complete breakdown of measured average FPS for this combination in Control.

1920x1080:

• Low: 182 FPS
• Medium: 129 FPS (min 110, max 148)
• High: 115 FPS
• Ultra: 100 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: 137 FPS
• Medium: 98 FPS (min 83, max 112)
• High: 87 FPS
• Ultra: 75 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: 93 FPS
• Medium: 66 FPS (min 56, max 76)
• High: 59 FPS
• Ultra: 51 FPS

This data shows a clear and consistent hierarchy. At 1080p, the system is capable of very high frame rates, even at Ultra settings. The jump from High to Ultra at 1080p costs 15 FPS, which is a modest penalty for the extra visual features. At 1440p, the frame rates are all very playable, with even the Ultra preset staying above 75 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p shows a minimum of 83 FPS, indicating a stable experience. At 4K, the frame rates become more variable, and the need to lower settings is apparent. The Medium preset is the only one that maintains a minimum FPS above 56, which is crucial for avoiding stutter. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 42 FPS, showing the massive impact of the higher resolution on the RX 9070's workload.